Candidates take out victory march
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 28: Sitting president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu, YV Sharma has been re-elected as president while another leading city businessman Arun Gupta, younger brother of former CCI president Romesh Chander Gupta and BJP leader Prof Chaman Lal Gupta as secretary general of this premier body of traders and industrialists.
Sham Lal Langar was declared elected as senior vice president, Anil Gupta ( Bittu) as junior vice president, Deepak Aggarwal as secretary whereas, Bharat Bhushan Gupta (Babbi) as treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr Sharma defeated his rival Rakesh Gupta by 82 votes while Arun Gupta ousted sitting CCI executive body member Manish Gupta with the margin of 231 votes. Y V Sharma secured 974 votes while his rival candidate Rakesh Gupta bagged 892 votes. Twenty-one votes were declared as invalid. Senior vice president Mr Langar got 1038 votes while his rival Ram Saroop Gupta, a sitting Executive body member bagged 812 votes. A total of 51 votes were declared invalid. Junior vice president Anil Gupta bagged 928 while his rival Sanjay Mahajan got 902 votes. Sixty six votes were declared invalid.
Arun Gupta secured 1043 votes and his rival candidate Manish Gupta 812 votes while 21 votes were found invalid. Deepak Aggarwal contesting for the post of secretary got 1042 votes and his rival Rahul Mahajan bagged 835 votes. Twenty votes were declared invalid. The winner for the post of treasurer, Bharat Bhushan Gupta alias Babbi managed 865 votes, Rajesh Gupta alias Bittu 623 votes while Rakesh Jandial polled just 318 votes. Ninety five votes were found invalid. Out of total 1964 votes, 1897 (96.58 %) were polled.
A total 13 members were in the fray for the posts of executive body of the CCI for which the elections were held at Chamber Bhawan, Rail Head complex here today. Two candidates each were contesting for the posts of president, senior vice president, junior vice president, secretary general and secretary while for the post of treasurer, three candidates were in the fray.
The annual general meeting (AGM) of the Chamber, having membership of 1964, commenced at around 10 am. The secretary general presented the annual report and highlighted the achievements of the sitting executive body. The polling started at around 11 am and was completed at 4 pm. The counting process started at around 6.30 pm and the results were declared at around 11.15 pm.
Recounting of the votes for the post of president was conducted after the defeating candidate Rakesh Gupta and his supporters protested. Election Commissioner Anil Kapahi and members Shiv Partap Gupta, Narinder Singh Chehal and Rajan Gupta agreed for recounting. After recounting, the votes of Rakesh were found same (892) while Y V Sharma’s votes were reduced from 976 to 974.
Entire Rail Head complex was seen buzzing with lively activity of polling today. Huge crowd of the city traders with great enthusiasm was witnessed throughout the day at the Chamber House and adjoining area.
A large number of banners of the contesting candidates were seen projected on the walls and poles right from Rail Head complex entry points up to the Chamber Bhawan. Several polling booths were set up to facilitate the members. The district administration had made adequate security arrangements and entire process passed off peacefully.
The occasion was appearing not less than the polling of Corporators in view of enthusiasm and arrangements. All the parkings at the Rail Head complex were fully packed and many vehicles were found even parked on the road sides. The food stalls had been arranged for the Chamber members and others deployed on the polling job.
Several contesting members and even their supporters were seen warmly and humbly greeting every member arriving to exercise his franchise at the entry point of the Chamber Bhawan, which had been decorated like a grand marriage hall.
As the Election Commissioner Anil Kapahi announced the final results, a jubilation gripped the entire Chamber complex. The supporters came out profusely garlanding their winning candidates. They started shouting slogans in support of Y V Sharma, Arun Gupta, Mr Langar and others. The greetings and sweets distribution started all around. Many supporters of the winning candidates started dancing at the rythem of drum beats. They had already arranged the drum beaters. The fire crackers started bursting, marking grand celebrations. Later, a victory rally was taken out towards old city by hundreds of supporters of the winning candidates.
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